Power driven vehicle



vMay 28, 1935. J. H. BALDWIN 2,002,518Y

POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE original Filed Feb. 27, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 A TORNEY-S May 28, 1935- J, H. BALDWIN 2,002,518

POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE Original Filed Feb. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 e 9 e e o e e o 199%9094@ INVENTOR BY '2:5 ATTORNEYS Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES POWER DRIVEN James H. Baldwin, New Milford, Conn.

Application February 27,1932, Serial No. 595,479 Renewed October 16, 1934 7 claims. (o1. 18o- 15) This invention'relates to power driven and particularly to automobiles.

It is an object of the invention toprovide an auxiliary ground vrgripping driving device whose 5 peripheral-velocity is always the same as that vehicles of the driving wheel of the vehicle with whichV the auxiliary driving device is associated.

` A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which is movable out of and into ground contact opposite the portion of the drivingwheel that is in contact `with the ground,

so that the three ground contacting` portions respectively of the two vehicle driving wheels and the auxiliary ground grippingdriving device will be substantially in alignment, with the result that when the auxiliary drive is inuse, steeringA of the vehicle will not appreciably be affected. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide for the driving of the auxiliary device from the periphery Vof the associated drivingwheel of thel vehicle, sc that where such wheel ,isgprovided with a,` pneumatic tire, the equalized peripheral velocity of said `driving wheel and auxiliary device will be maintained regardless of variations in wear or air pressure within the pneumatic tire.

Another object is to.v provide for raising the i auxiliary device out of ground contact to a height sufcient to enable it to clear the ground above the associatedV tire `rim even when the tire is fiat. A still further object is to provide a control mechanism for the auxiliarydrive, for moving it into and out of operative position, the control being effected'byroperation of ithe vehicle brake, thel auxiliary ldrive being movable into operative position byactuation of the brake lever preferably in advance of the gripping action of the-brakes, -whereby Athe. vehicle may avoid skidding. i An additional object of A the invention is the provision of an auxiliary drive with means ,for locking it to a drive wheel of the vehicle so that the peripheral velocitycf both will remain the same regardless of wearthat may occur on either. .i Y.

The invention includes mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing objects together with` means for controlling the auxiliarydevice otherwise than by the brake, and for releasing it from association with the brake, as well as other means hereinafter' more fully described.

Objects and advantages of the invention here- 5 inabove not specifically Vset forth will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which 1'1- lustrate a preferred form of one embodiment of the invention and in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly 5 in section, showing the inner face of one of the rear driving wheels of an automobile;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detailedV sectional view on the line 4--4 of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic elevation of the 15 controlling mechanism;V

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken centrally through the cylindrical actuator valveof Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, a composite leaf 20 spring I2 is associated with the chassis side frame member I4. A pair of U-bolts I6 secure the axle housing I8 and saddle 20 `to the leaf springs. The rear driving wheel is provided with spokes 22, wheel rim 24, tire rim ,26 and pneumatic tire 25 28. A brake drum housing 30 is associated with .the wheel in usual manner. The brake is operated in usual manner as by foot lever 32 and brake rod 34. The vehicle is shown as being provided with left rear fender' 36 and supporting 30 bracket 38 for the running .board 4D. In the present embodiment of the invention, the movable frame which carries the auxiliary driving device is carried by a bracket 42.secured under the leaf springs I2 by U-bolts I6 and hav- 35 ing the upwardly extending arm 44 and forwardly extendingV horizontal arm 46. At the `forward end of arm 455is located a shackle bolt Y48 from which is suspended, by link 50 and a second shackle `bolt 52,- the frame 54 ofthe 40 auxiliary driving device.

One end of the frame 54 carries the rotatable groovedpulley 56 and the other end of the frame is provided with a housing 58 within which are rotatably mounted meshing gears 60 and 62. 45 The gear 6l) is keyed on'a short shaft 64 revolubly mounted in the frame 54 and to whose other end is keyed a grooved pulley 66. A beveled belt 68 connects-the two pulleys 56 and 66 in 50 driving Arelation and is provided on its outer face with ground grippers 10. Y

The gear 62 is keyed on shaft 'l2 which is rotatably mounted in frame 54 and Vhas keyed to it a' driving pulley T4 peripherally shaped for 55- driving engagement with the periphery of pneumatic tire 28.

Referring to the means for moving the auxiliary device into and out of operative position, the upwardly extending bracket d carries a pivot bolt T8, with which is associated a lifting lever whose upper arm @t is pivotally connected at 82 with the actuator rod ed and whose lower arm 8S has pivotally attached thereto a link St whose lower end, in turn, is pivotally connected at 9i? with the frame 513.' Movement of the upper arm Sii to the dotted line position of Figure l, that is, to the left as viewed in said figure, moves the upper portion of link til upwardly and to the right, thereby causing the lower end of frame 5! to lift and move out of ground contact the auxiliary drive. During this movement, the housing 58 of the frame moves downwardly to dottedV line position and carries driving pulley fifi out of driving engagement with the periphery of the pneumatic tire. The movement described is aided by a coil spring 92 under tension and attached to bracket arm 16 and also to frame 55. The movement described is .sufiicient to lift the lower. end of the auxiliary driving element high enough to clear the tire rim. When in lower or operative position the driving surface of the auxiliary element contacts with the ground, as shown in Figure 1, in line with the ground contacting area of the two rear driving wheels of the vehicle and, asa result, the steering of the vehicle is not appreciably affected. The actuating rod 84 ispivotally attached at its forward end, as at gli, to a short piston Si@ working in cylinder E38.V When the piston S55 is in the forward position of Figure l, the auxiliary device is in operative position, as shown. The piston,however, is normally to the left, asV viewed in said' iigure,'the frame being lifted by means of spring $2. The piston is moved to the right to bring the auxiliary device into operative position by `reduction of air pressure in the cylinder S3 to the right of the piston, and for this purpose the right hand end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe line I to the'intake manifold |32 of the internal combustion engine furnishing the motive power for the vehicle. y

, A manually controlled valve Hlrrnay close off the cylinder 98 from communication with the intake manifold, and itself be operative from the instrument panel. Y v

Inriaccordance with the invention, the auxiliary driver may be operated by the brake lever and optionally, or, in addition thereto, may be operableY withoutY actuating the brake.

In the embodiment illustrated, located in the 'pipe line between the Vcylinder and the valve Hifi is a valve casing H35 within which is reciprocally mounted a cylindrical valve of the type illustrated in Figure Y6. In its right hand position it opens communication between the. cylinder e8 and valve it; in itsleftvhand position it closes noirV the cylinder from communication with said valve and through a secondV .passage places the cylinder in communication with the outside atmosphere through a relief port his. AYV foot actuated lever HE be operable through the iioorboard, and when depressed, finoves to the left a` link; i i2 which draws, to the leftg'against the action of a tensioned coil spring lll 4,; the lower arm Mii of a pivoted lever whose upper arm H8 is slotted to receive a pin provided on the slide valve. The depression of the lever lili. thusmoves ,the valve to right-hand .position so that if the shut-off valve |04 is open 2,oo2,5 1e

iii to the right, whereupon the slide valve is moved to the left a sufficient distance to vent Vcylinder 98 to the outside atmosphere.

In Ythis movement, however, the slide valve moves to the'left and arm l2ii, which has slotted connection with the valve, moves about fixed pivot E22 increasing the tension of a coil spring 2:3 associated with the two arms I2@ and IE6. These springs act in opposition to each other and are vso arranged that when the system is in equilibrium the cylinder 98 is vented to the outside atmosphere. In accordance with the invention, the arm pivotally mounted on the axis l22, is arranged for association with a portion ofthe foot brake 32 so that when the foot brake lever is depressed the arm will be cammed to the right, about its pivot 22, increasing the tension on spring i2@ sufciently to move the slide valve to the right, thereby placing the cylinder 98 in communication with the intake manifold m2, if the shut-off .valve imV is open and causing the auxiliary gripping drive to operate as before described, the Darts being preferably so arranged that this auxiliary drive will commence to function before the brakes begin to function and t ereby avoid the commencement of a skid that might otherwise occur when the braking action starts. YShould the shut-off valve |554 be closed, however, the brake functions inv customary manner without affecting the auxiliary gripping drive. Should theshutoff valve be closed and the vehicle begin toA skid with or without theV application of the brakes, rthe valve IM may be opened and lever Hii operated to bring the auxiliary driving device into operation as hereinbefore described to stop the skidding. It is evident that when the auxiliary driving device is required to provide additional traction for propelling the vehicle, its operation may be affected through lever H0 rather than through the brake lever. The auxiliary device herein described is preferably provided for each of the rear or driving wheels of the vehicle, only one being illustrated as its description will suilice for both. The pipe line lil@ is provided with a branch for the cylinder of the corresponding. auxiliary Adevice cooperating .with the right rear vehicle wheel.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power driven vehicle, a pair of axially aligned wheels having ground contact, a gripper belt frame, belt rollers carried thereby, a gripper belt on said belt rollers, a power take-off roller in driving relation with the periphery of one of said wheels for driving one of said belt rollers, and mechanism for moving the belt frame to bring a portion of said belt into andt out ofground contact in line with the ground contacting portions of said wheels.

. 2. In a power driven vehicle, a pair of axially aligned wheels having ground contacting tires provided with rims, and auxiliary mechanism including a pivotally mounted gripper belt frame, belt rollers carried thereby, a gripper belt on Y a pivotally mounted gripper belt frame, belt rollers carried thereby, a gripper belt on said belt rollers, a power take-off roller` carried by said frame in driving relation with the periphery of one of said wheels for driving one of said belt rollers, and mechanism for moving said gripper belt frame in one Vdirection to bring aportion of said gripper belt into ground contact and said power take-off roller into driving engagement with the periphery of its associated wheel, Yand in theother direction to bring said gripper belt out of ground contact and said power take-ofi roller out of driving engagement with the periphery of its associated wheel.

4. In a power driven vehicle, a pair of axially aligned wheels having ground contacting tires, a bracket carried by said vehicle, a gripper belt frame, having link connection with said bracket, belt rollers mounted` in said frame, a gripper belt on said belt-rollers, a power take-off roller carried by said frame in driving relation with the periphery of one of said wheels for driving one of said belt rollers, and mechanism for moving said gripper belt frame in one direction to bring a portion of said gripper belt into ground g contact and said power take-oli?` roller Vinto driving engagement with the periphery of its associated wheel, and in the other direction to bring said gripper belt out of ground contact and said power take-off roller out of driving engagement with the periphery of its associated wheel, said mechanism including a lever carried by said bracket, a link connecting said lever to said gripper belt frame, and a spring connecting said frame'to said bracket and urging said belt frame towards inoperative position. Y

5. In a power driven vehicle, a pair of axially aligned driving wheels having ground contact,

an auxiliary gripper device associated therewith including a roller driven by one of said wheels, belt rollers and a gripper belt thereon driven from said rst-named roller, and mechanism for moving a portion of said gripper belt out of and into ground contact in line with the ground contacting portions of saidA driving wheels.

6. In a power driven vehicle, a pair of axially aligned driving wheels having ground contact, an auxiliary gripper device associated therewith including a roller driven by one of said wheels,

belt rollers and a gripper belt thereon driven from said rst-named roller, said belt being driven thereby at the same peripheral velocity as said wheel and having a gripping surface, and means for moving said gripper belt out of and into contact with the ground in line with the ground contacting portions of said driving wheels.V

7. ,In a power driven vehicle, a pair of axially aligned driving wheels having ground contact, an auxiliary gripper device associated therewith including a roller driven by one of said wheels, belt rollers and a belt thereon having a studded ground gripping surface driven from said rstnamed roller at the same peripheral velocity as its associated wheel, and mechanism including a foot lever for moving a portion of said belt out of and into ground contact in line with the ground contacting portions of said driving wheels.

JAMES H. BALDWIN. 

